guy who goes by the name ‘the Saber’?”
Emeric’s expression shifted with a thoughtful frown. “Vaguely. I think he’s mostly into computer-related activities—hacking and that sort of thing.”
“I can see why he’d be useful then.” Most fearmancers didn’t more than dabble in computers—the intersection of electronic data and magical influence was so complex it gave me a headache even trying for relatively simple effects. But with so much business done over the internet these days, so many records stored on hard drives, that’d be an obvious route for launching an offensive against a company.
“Did they say he’s going to be at this party?” Emeric asked.
“Yeah. And apparently he’ll be evaluating everyone, especially me. It sounded like they expect him to be pretty peeved about my recent associations.” I made a face at the windshield.
“You’ve managed to persuade everyone else of your loyalties. I’m sure you’ll find a way with him.”
A way that was going to require some groveling, it sounded like, but I couldn’t let myself get too wrapped up in fretting over that. I’d just have to see what happened tomorrow and what this Saber guy was like. Hopefully he was more computer geek and less the vicious swordsman his name made him sound like.
“It sounds like they’re ready to make their move soon, so I’d better persuade them to spill more of their secrets tomorrow.” I rubbed my arms. “Wilhelm said something about going ahead next week. I still have no idea what they’re going to do to those companies—or if that’s even definitely the plan. The barons can ramp up security in general, but it’ll be a lot easier for them to head things off at the pass if they know exactly where they’ll be under attack.”
Emeric hummed to himself. “I did run into Ernest yesterday, and he said something vague about changing people’s opinions about the barons. I’m not sure how that would factor in with an attack on their businesses, though.”
“Yeah, there’s no clear connection there. But thank you. I can pass it on to the pentacle and maybe they’ll be able to connect more of the pieces.”
He gave me his crooked smile and reached over to give my knee the briefest of squeezes before returning it to the steering wheel. “Glad to pitch in at least a little. Although I guess I also get the glory of having brought you on board.”
“And coming to the pentacle in the first place to let them know something was going on.” I glanced at him in the dimming light. His face looked relaxed, but his fingers had tightened a bit where he was gripping the steering wheel. Suddenly I wished my specialty was insight rather than illusion so that I could have read his face better to figure out what was going on in his head.
“You don’t think they’ll figure out that you were involved in taking them down, do you?” I ventured. We hadn’t discussed that possibility before, but even if the other reaper families didn’t realize Emeric had brought me around purposefully to undermine them, if they had any suspicion that I’d contributed to their downfall, they might take it out on him for encouraging them to trust me. Hell, even if they thought the ruin of their plans had nothing to do with me, he’d probably get some razzing simply over believing in me when I’d proven so ready to run back to the university.
“Oh, when you take off, I’m getting out of here too,” Emeric said. “I don’t see any point in sticking around once I’ve proven myself to the people who count. Onward and upward. And your mission is my ticket there.”
He spoke evenly, but I got the impression that idea meant more to him than he was letting on. “The barons will definitely help you—and your family—any way they can. They won’t hold your past against you. Rory never did with me, and I was pretty horrible to her at first.” I restrained a wince at the memory. “Isn’t it kind of sad that you’ll be leaving this city, though? You obviously love the place.”
Emeric darted a glance toward me as if startled by that observation. Then he shrugged. “I can always visit again when tensions die down—or when the bastards who deserve it are completely put away. You can’t stay in the same place forever or you start to rot.”
That sentiment sat uncomfortably with me, even though I agreed with the gist of it. Did he think of himself as having